Plastic fountain toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A plastic fountain toothbrush incorporating an elongated plastic cylinder with a brush head at one end thereof, a piston longitudinally slidably disposed therein for discharging toothpaste through a passageway into the brush head and an operating mechanism for the piston to move it longitudinally at the end of the cylinder remote from the brush head. The entire construction is waterproof to enable the entire device to be easily cleaned or rinsed off with plastic materials being used throughout to enable the device to be economically manufactured. Use of the fountain toothbrush promotes oral hygiene by eliminating transfer of germs from one conventional toothbrush to another by contacting the dispensing portion of a conventional callapsible toothpaste tube with the brush heads of several toothbrushes in a family.

United States Patent [191 Reitknecht Apr. 17, 1973 PLASTIC FOUNTAINTOOTHBRUSH Jack Reitknecht, 210 East Broadway, New York, NY. 10002 22Filed: Jan. 6, 1972 21 App1 No.: 215,798

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Harvey B. Jacobson [57]ABSTRACT A plastic fountain toothbrush incorporating an elongatedplastic cylinder with a brush head at one end thereof, a pistonlongitudinally slidably disposed therein for discharging toothpastethrough a passageway into the brush head and an operating mechanism forthe piston to move it longitudinally at the end of the cylinder remotefrom the brush head. The entire construction is waterproof to enable theentire device to be easily cleaned or rinsed off with plastic materialsbeing used throughout to enable the device to be economicallymanufactured. Use of the fountain toothbrush promotes oral hygiene byeliminating transfer of germs from one conventional toothbrush toanother by contacting the dispensing portion of a conventionalcallapsible toothpaste tube with the brush heads of several toothbrushesin a fami- 14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTE' APRI 71375 SHEET 1 BF 2v vn PLASTIC FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention The present invention generally relates to a fountaintoothbrush and more particularly to such a toothbrush constructed ofplastic materials and incorporating novel structural features thereinenabling efiicient operation and economical manufacture.

2. Description of the Prior Art Fountain toothbrushes have beendeveloped previously but for various reasons have not replacedconventional toothbrushes in the marketplace. One example of previouslydeveloped fountain toothbrushes is disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No.3,039,476, issued June 19, 1962. Basically, previously known fountaintoothbrushes have incorporated a cylindrical body receiving a quantityof toothpaste together with a piston movable longitudinally in the bodyfor forcing the toothpaste to be discharged onto a brush head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide a fountain toothbrush in which the components are constructed ofplastic material constructed in a manner that the components are ofwaterproof construction which enables effective cleansing of the brushwithout damage to the operating components and further enables themanufacturing cost of the toothbrush to be maintained at a very low costso that the device will be economicallyfeasible and competitive withconventional toothbrushes when considering the advantages derived fromthe fountain toothbrush.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush thatincludes a piston slidable in the supply cylinder with an eccentricallydisposed threaded shaft threadedly extending through the piston and alarge knob is attached to the shaft for rotation thereof to facilitatemovement of the piston. The threaded shaft is not only rotatablyjoumaled but mounted for limited reciprocation and selectivereciprocation to enable a given quantity of toothpaste to be dischargedby rotating the knob which is geared to the shaft to rotate the shaftwhich will move the piston if the shaft is maintained stationary or ifthe shaft is permitted to move longitudinally, the piston will remainstationary and the shaft moved outwardly of the rotating knob where itcan be engaged by a thumb or finger and moved longitudinally for movingthe piston to discharge a predetermined quantity of toothpaste.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fountain toothbrush inaccordance with the preceding objects in which the operating knob isprovided with an internal ring gear meshing with a gear on the end ofthe shaft for rotating the shaft and including a pawl mechanism forreleasably locking the knob in one direction of rotation, thus enablingthe piston to be retracted for refilling from a supply container oftoothpaste. 7 These together with other objects and advantages whichwill become subsequently apparent reside in the details of constructionand operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theplastic fountain toothbrush of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the toothbrush.

FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially on a planepassing along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating theeccentricity-of the threaded operating shaft.

FIG. 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 4--4 of FIG. 2 illustrating the structuraldetails of the operating mechanism for the shaft.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating thethreaded shaft moved longitudinally outwardly in relation to thecylinder to enable pressure to be exerted on the pinion gear thereon fordischarging a predetermined quantity of toothpaste.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the toothbrush illustrating the mannerin which it can be supported on a supporting hook or the like.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the toothbrush illustrating the mannerin which the supply of toothpaste may be replenished from a collapsibletube.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the toothbrush illustrating the mannerin which the toothbrush may be refilled with toothpaste from apressurized container.

FIG. 9 is an exploded group perspective view of the operating mechanismfor the toothbrush.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically tothe drawings, the

. plastic fountain toothbrush of the present invention is generallydesignated by the numeral 10 and includes an elongated cylindrical body12 defining an interior cylinder 14 for receiving a supply oftoothpaste. Mounted on one end of the cylindrical body 12 is a brushhead assembly generally designated by the numeral 16 and at the oppositeend of the cylindrical body 12, an operating mechanism generallydesignated by the numeral 18 is provided.

The end of the body 12 having the brush head 16 attached thereto isprovided with an internally threaded neck 20 eccentric to thelongitudinal center line of the cylindrical body 12 with the neck 20being joined with the body 12 by a smoothly curved and thickenedtransition area 22.

The brush head 16 includes a straight tubular member 24 having athreaded end portion threaded into the internally threaded neck 20 andan abutment flange 26 which limits the threaded movement thereof. Thetube 24 includes a passageway 28 that communicates with the cylinder 14and extends to a discharge orifice 30 which communicates with aflattened surface 32 of the brush head which also tapers on the oppositesurface from the flat surface as designated by numeral 34. A pluralityof tufts of bristles 37 are mounted in the flat surface 32 of the brushhead in a conventional manner with the bristles having a desired degreeof stiffness and being of conventional plastic material employed inconstructing toothbrush bristles.

The orifice 30 is closed by a plug 36 having a rounded peripheralprojection 38 thereon which is held against the inner end of the orifice30 by the end of the plug 36 engaging the opposite side of thepassageway 28 as at 40. The upper end of the plug 36 is provided with aknob 42 to facilitate insertion and removal thereof. The discharge endof the orifice 30 is formed by a projection 44 which defines a shoulderfor effective separation of the toothpaste that has been discharged fromthe toothpaste still in the passageway 28 and orifice 30. The plasticconstruction'of the plug 36 and the orifice 30 enables the plug to beinserted and removed and provides an antiseptic closure and waterproofseal for the orifice 30.

The tip end of the brush head 16 is provided with an aperture 46 adaptedto receive a hook 48 on a suction cup 50 mounted on a mirror 52 or otherflat smooth surface, as illustrated in FIG. 6, or the aperture 46 may beemployed for supporting the toothbrush from any suitable supportingdevice.

The brush head may be protected by a removable cylindrical cap 54 havingan opening 56 in one end thereof and the other end may be frictionallyor screwthreadedly engaged with the transition area 22 of thecylindrical body 12 to protect the bristles when desired with theaperture 56 enabling air circulation to facilitate drying of thebristles.

Disposed in the cylindrical body 12 is a piston 58 having aneccentrically disposed threaded aperture 60 therethrough. The peripheryof the piston is provided with a peripheral sealing member 62 slidablyfitting the interior of the cylinder 14 with the sealing member 62including three spaced peripheral ribs or rings separated by void spaces64 with the sealing member 62 being constructed of softer and moreresilient material than the remainder of the piston 58.

Threaded through the piston 58 is an elongated threaded shaft 66 whichmay be constructed of solid rigid plastic material, stainless steel orof plastic material reinforced by a steel core 67 as illustrated. Theshaft 66 has a reduced forward end 68 journaled in a socket in thetransition area 22 and a reduced rearward end 70 that extends into theoperating mechanism 18.

The operating mechanism 18 includes a one-piece assembly that includes aclosure plug 72 telescoping into the interior of the cylinder 12 andincluding a bore 74 which journals the reduced end 70 of the shaft 66thus rotatably journaling the shaft. The surface of the plug 72encircling the bore 74 is provided with a cavity 76 that receives acylindrical spacer 78 in a selective manner, that is, the spacer may bepositioned therein or omitted therefrom. When the spacer 78 is in place,any rotation of the shaft 66 will move the piston 58 longitudinally inthe cylinder 14. When the spacer 78 is omitted, rotation of the shaft 66in a clockwise direction will cause movement of the shaft 66longitudinally toward the plug 72 and leave the piston 58 stationaryuntil the shoulder at the inner end off the reduced portion 70 comesinto contact with the bottom of the recess 76 which then enables theshaft 66 to be moved longitudinally to move the piston 58 apredetermined increment of movement for discharging a predeterminedamount of toothpaste.

The operating mechanism 18 also includes an enlarged cylindrical knob 80that is externally knurled and provided with a flange 82 extendingtelescopically over the end of the cylindrical body 12 which includesthereof which is in meshing engagement with a pinion;

gear 90 mounted on the end of the shaft 66 with the gear 90 and reducedend of the shaft 66 having a polygonal configuration or otherwiserigidly connected for rotation together. Thus, as the knob is rotated,the gear will be rotated at a greater rotational speed thus rotating theshaft 66.

Also formed integrally with the plug 72 is a pawl 92 having a free end94 engaging the internal gear 88 with the resiliency of the materialenabling the knob 80 to be rotated in a clockwise direction butprevented from rotation in a counterclockwise direction. The pawl may bedisengaged by the provision of a slight upward projection 96 in the formof a tab on the upper end thereof which will receive the thumbnail orfingernail to enable the pawl 92 to be pivoted to the dotted lineposition illustrated in FIG. 4 with the end 94 out of engagement withthe teeth 88. The pawl 92 may be retained in inoperative position by aprojection 98 on the outer surface of the plug 72 with the resiliency ofthe plastic material enabling the pawl to'be lifted slightly away fromthe surface of the plug 72 so that it can go over top of the projection98 and then be retained in retracted position by the projection 98. I

The outer end portion of the knob 80 is of reduced thickness andprovided with a groove 100 that receives a closure plate 102 that isconstructed of flexible material such as transparent plastic or thelike. The plate 102 is provided with a tab 104 thereon which is receivedin a notch 106 in the outer end of the knob 80 to enable removal andinsertion of the closure plate 102. As illustrated, the closure plate102 forms a sealed closure for the operating gear mechaniam and pawlmechanism and provides an area for engaging the thumb or finger thereonwhen the gear 90 and shaft 66 are moved longitudinally as illustrated inFIG. 5 with the cover plate being sufficiently flexible to enable thegear 90 to move to the position on FIG. 5 and enabling thumb pressure tobe engaged with the plate to move the gear 90 inwardly into the positionillustrated in FIG. 2 to move the piston a predetermined increment ofmovement.

Adjacent the operating mechanism 18, the cylindrical body is providedwith an opening 108 which receives a closure plug 110 which has theparticular configuration as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, so thatthe plastic material from which the components are constructed providesa releasable closure plug 110 and one in which the inner end of theclosure plug is of reduced diameter and stops flush with the interior ofthe cylinder so that no toothpaste will reside in this opening when theplug 110 is in place. In filling the cylinder, the piston is retractedand if a conventional toothpaste tube 112' is used, the brush head 16 isremoved and the toothpaste tube is screw-threaded into neck 20.Toothpaste is forced into the cylinder 14 when the plug 110 is removedand the tube squeezed as illustrated in FIG. 7. If a pressurized aerosalcontainer 114 is used, the plug 110 is removed along with the plug 36 inthe brush as illustrated in FIG. 8 so that toothpaste may be injectedinto the cylinder 14 in front of the piston 58.

The opening 108 is provided with an annular shoulder 109 which isrecessed inwardly from the outer surface of the body 12 and which facesoutwardly to form an abutment which engages the end of the dischargenozzle and valve actuator 113 on the aerosol container 114. Depressionof the tubular actuating member or nozzle 113 will actuate the valve 115in the aerosol container 114 which has been schematically illustrated inFIG. 8. Thus, when the toothbrush assembly is moved downwardly from thefull line position of FIG. 8 to the broken line position, by virtue ofthe valve actuator 113 being depressed, due to its engagement with theshoulder 109, the valve 115 will be open thus allowing the cylindricalbody 14 to be filled with toothpaste from the container. This samestructure, of course, will also activate any other similar tubular valveactuator and discharge nozzle to enable filling of the cylindrical bodyby any other pressurized source such as a machine for filling aplurality of toothbrushes. The construction of the opening 108 is suchthat it will closely telescopically receive the tubular member 113 sothat the tubular member 113 will discharge into the body 12 withoutleakage. In either filling arrangement, the plug 110, when reinserted,will close the opening 108 and be flush with the surface of the cylinder14.

For assembly purposes, the piston 58 is provided with a recess or cavity116 therein in alignment with the shaft 66 and adjacent the periphery ofthe piston 58 to designate the eccentricity of the threaded bore 60. Theplug 72 is provided with a radial projection 118 that is received in acorresponding recess in the end of the cylindrical body 12 so that whenthe projection 118 and cavity 116 are aligned with the bore whichreceives the reduced end 68 of the shaft 66, the assembled plug, pistonand shaft 66 may be readily inserted into the cylindrical body 12.

This toothbrush is safe and promotes oral hygiene by reducing transferof germs, bacteria, and the like. Small children can utilize thetoothbrush since the large knob provides adequate gripping surface anddoes not require the application of a large force to rotate the same.Use of this toothbrush completely eliminates contact between severaltoothbrushes of a family with the mouth of a single tube of toothpastewhich practice has been found to spread germs and bacteria throughout afamily. The waterproof construction enhances the sanitary features ofthe invention and the plastic construction enables the device to beeconomically manufactured on a one use throw away basis or for re-use byrefilling. The toothbrush is useful with toothpaste having differentviscosities and the structure of the device facilitates assembly bymachine which again reduces the overall cost of the device and rendersit economically feasible. The device also may be used for dispensingother flowable materials having various viscosities and the audibleclicking of the ratchet pawl and the structure in which the shaft ismoved longitudinally in one direction by rotation of the knob and thenin a direction to dispense material by thumb pressure provides for thedispensing of a measured quantity of material.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fountain toothbrush comprising an elongated cylindrical body, abrush head mounted on one end of said body and including bristlesthereon and a passage communicating the interior of the body with thebristles, a piston longitudinally reciprocally mounted in thecylindrical 'body for discharging toothpaste from the body, through thepassageway into the bristles when the piston moves towards the brushhead, and means engaged with the piston for moving the pistonlongitudinally in the body, said means for moving the piston includingan elongated threaded shaft journaled in said body and threaded throughthe piston, and an operating mechanism mounted on the end of thecylindrical body opposite from the brush head and engaged with the shaftfor rotating the shaft for moving the piston in the cylindrical body,said shaft being received in a threaded bore in the piston with thethreaded bore and shaft being eccentric in relation to the cylindricalbody whereby the eccentricity of the threaded bore and shaft preventsrotation of the piston in relation to the body thereby moving the pistonlongitudinally when the shaft is rotated, said operating mechanism forthe shaft including a knob disposed peripherally of the cylindricalbody, and gear drive means interconnecting the knob and shaft forrotating the shaft upon rotation of the knob, said gear means includingan internal gear integral with the knob and a drive gear mounted on theshaft in meshing engagement with the internal gear.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical bodyincludes a closure plug having an eccentric bore therein journaling theshaft, said shaft having a reduced end portion extending through thebore and the plug, said plug having a recess surrounding the bore withthe recess facing the shoulder between the shaft and the reduced endthereof whereby the shaft may move longitudinally in relation to thebody with the reduced end portion of the shaft moving through the borein the plug until the shoulder on the shaft engages the bottom of arecess in the plug.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, together with a spacerselectively insertable into the recess in the plug to preventlongitudinal movement of the shaft in relation to the body when thespacer is positioned in the recess and permit longitudinal movement ofthe shaft in relation to the body when the spacer is omitted from therecess.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said knob includes aperipheral flange defining the internal gear with the peripheral flangeextending beyond the internal gear and including an inwardly facingperipheral groove therein, a flexible closure plug received in saidperipheral groove for preventing water from entering the interior of theflange and coming into contact with the gears.

5. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said operating mechanismalso includes a ratchet pawl en gageable with the internal gear toenable the internal gear and knob integral therewith to be rotated inone direction and preventing reverse rotation thereof.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said operating mechanismincludes means rendering the ratchet pawl inoperative for enabling thepiston to be retracted into a position remote from the brush head.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said body includes anopening adjacent the operating mechanism but outwardly of the pistonwhen retracted, a closure plug for the opening to enable toothpaste tobe forced into the cylindrical body through the end of the body havingthe brush head therein or through the opening with the closure thereforbeing removed when toothpaste is being forced into the cylindrical body.

8. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said brush head includesa discharge orifice defined by a peripheral wall, a closure plug for thedischarge orifice, said closure plug including a rounded shoulder thatcan be inserted through the discharge orifice with the shoulder beingspaced from the inner end of the plug, the inner end of the plugengaging an opposed surface of the passageway in the brush head to holdthe shoulder against the inner end of the orifice thereby forming a sealfor the orifice.

9. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said brush head includesan opening at the tip end thereof for receiving a hook-type support orthe like to enable the toothbrush to be suspended from a support.

10. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston andoperating mechanism for the shaft includes index means to enablealignment of the piston and operating mechanism when assembled withrespect to the cylindrical body.

11. The structure as defined in claim 2,wherein said cylindrical bodyand knob are provided with rotatably interengaging peripheral rib meansand recess means for relative rotation of the knob, said knob andinternal gear being constructed of one-piece molded plastic material.

12. The structure as defined in claim 1 1 wherein said rib means andrecess means enables the knob to be snapped onto the body bylongitudinal movement thereof and automatically meshing and engaging allcomponents of the operating mechanism to facilitate assembly thereof.

13. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said ratchet pawl isunitarily constructed with said closure plug by being formed as aone-piece molded structure from flexible resilient material to permitthe pawl to oscillate when engaging the internal gear and enable thepawl to be selectively moved between operative position in engagementwith the internal gear and inoperative position disengaged therefrom.

14. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein the opening in the bodyadjacent the operating mechanism includes an outwardly facing annularshoulder recessed inwardly from the outer surface of the body andforming an abutment for engaging and depressing the tubular valveactuator and discharge nozzle on an aerosol container or otherpressurized source to enable filling of the body.

i l t t

1. A fountain toothbrush comprising an elongated cylindrical body, abrush head mounted on one end of said body and including bristlesthereon and a passage communicating the interior of the body with thebristles, a piston longitudinally reciprocally mounted in thecylindrical body for discharging toothpaste from the body, through thepassageway into the bristles when the piston moves towards the brushhead, and means engaged with the piston for moving the pistonlongitudinally in the body, said means for moving the piston includingan elongated threaded shaft journaled in said body and threaded throughthe piston, and an operating mechanism mounted on the end of thecylindrical body opposite from the brush head and engaged with the shaftfor rotating the shaft for moving the piston in the cylindrical body,said shaft being received in a threaded bore in the piston with thethreaded bore and shaft being eccentric in relation to the cylindricalbody whereby the eccentricity of the threaded bore and shaft preventsrotation of the piston in relation to the body thereby moving the pistonlongitudinally when the shaft is rotated, said operating mechanism forthe shaft including a knob disposed peripherally of the cylindricalbody, and gear drive means interconnecting the knob and shaft forrotating the shaft upon rotation of the knob, said gear means includingan internal gear integral with the knob and a drive gear mounted on theshaft in meshing engagement with the internal gear.
 2. The structure asdefined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical body includes a closureplug having an eccentric bore therein journaling the shaft, said shafthaving a reduced end portion extending through the bore and the plug,said plug having a recess surrounding the bore with the recess facingthe shoulder between the shaft and the reduced end theReof whereby theshaft may move longitudinally in relation to the body with the reducedend portion of the shaft moving through the bore in the plug until theshoulder on the shaft engages the bottom of a recess in the plug.
 3. Thestructure as defined in claim 2, together with a spacer selectivelyinsertable into the recess in the plug to prevent longitudinal movementof the shaft in relation to the body when the spacer is positioned inthe recess and permit longitudinal movement of the shaft in relation tothe body when the spacer is omitted from the recess.
 4. The structure asdefined in claim 2, wherein said knob includes a peripheral flangedefining the internal gear with the peripheral flange extending beyondthe internal gear and including an inwardly facing peripheral groovetherein, a flexible closure plug received in said peripheral groove forpreventing water from entering the interior of the flange and cominginto contact with the gears.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 2,wherein said operating mechanism also includes a ratchet pawl engageablewith the internal gear to enable the internal gear and knob integraltherewith to be rotated in one direction and preventing reverse rotationthereof.
 6. The structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said operatingmechanism includes means rendering the ratchet pawl inoperative forenabling the piston to be retracted into a position remote from thebrush head.
 7. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said bodyincludes an opening adjacent the operating mechanism but outwardly ofthe piston when retracted, a closure plug for the opening to enabletoothpaste to be forced into the cylindrical body through the end of thebody having the brush head therein or through the opening with theclosure therefor being removed when toothpaste is being forced into thecylindrical body.
 8. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein saidbrush head includes a discharge orifice defined by a peripheral wall, aclosure plug for the discharge orifice, said closure plug including arounded shoulder that can be inserted through the discharge orifice withthe shoulder being spaced from the inner end of the plug, the inner endof the plug engaging an opposed surface of the passageway in the brushhead to hold the shoulder against the inner end of the orifice therebyforming a seal for the orifice.
 9. The structure as defined in claim 1,wherein said brush head includes an opening at the tip end thereof forreceiving a hook-type support or the like to enable the toothbrush to besuspended from a support.
 10. The structure as defined in claim 1,wherein said piston and operating mechanism for the shaft includes indexmeans to enable alignment of the piston and operating mechanism whenassembled with respect to the cylindrical body.
 11. The structure asdefined in claim 2, wherein said cylindrical body and knob are providedwith rotatably interengaging peripheral rib means and recess means forrelative rotation of the knob, said knob and internal gear beingconstructed of one-piece molded plastic material.
 12. The structure asdefined in claim 11 wherein said rib means and recess means enables theknob to be snapped onto the body by longitudinal movement thereof andautomatically meshing and engaging all components of the operatingmechanism to facilitate assembly thereof.
 13. The structure as definedin claim 5 wherein said ratchet pawl is unitarily constructed with saidclosure plug by being formed as a one-piece molded structure fromflexible resilient material to permit the pawl to oscillate whenengaging the internal gear and enable the pawl to be selectively movedbetween operative position in engagement with the internal gear andinoperative position disengaged therefrom.
 14. The structure as definedin claim 7 wherein the opening in the body adjacent the operatingmechanism includes an outwardly facing annular shoulder recessedinwardly from the outer surface of the body and forming an abutment Forengaging and depressing the tubular valve actuator and discharge nozzleon an aerosol container or other pressurized source to enable filling ofthe body.